Filter options

Publication Date
From
to
Subjects
Journals
Article Types
Countries / Territories
Open Access April 13, 2025

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines for the Elderly Population in Japan

Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is commonly known as a pathogen of the bronchiolitis in children, however, recently also as a pathogen of the severe virus pneumonia in adults, especially elderly persons, and vaccines for elderly persons have been developed. There are two vaccines, such as the vaccines targeted for subgroup A with the adjuvant, and that targeted for both subgroup A and B but not [...] Read more.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is commonly known as a pathogen of the bronchiolitis in children, however, recently also as a pathogen of the severe virus pneumonia in adults, especially elderly persons, and vaccines for elderly persons have been developed. There are two vaccines, such as the vaccines targeted for subgroup A with the adjuvant, and that targeted for both subgroup A and B but not included the adjuvant in Japan. Both vaccines are considered effective to prevent not only the incident of RSV infection/pneumonia, but also the exacerbations of the elderly persons with underlying diseases including chronic cardiopulmonary diseases.
Figures
PreviousNext
Mini Review
Open Access April 10, 2025

Impact of Vaccination on Severe Outcomes in COVID-19 Reinfections and Breakthrough Infections

Abstract COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the prevalence of serious illnesses. The relative risk of hospitalization and mortality for patients who get breakthrough infections after immunization versus those who develop reinfections after a prior spontaneous infection is examined in this correspondence. Based on a study on U.S. Veterans who were not vaccinated and experienced [...] Read more.
COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the prevalence of serious illnesses. The relative risk of hospitalization and mortality for patients who get breakthrough infections after immunization versus those who develop reinfections after a prior spontaneous infection is examined in this correspondence. Based on a study on U.S. Veterans who were not vaccinated and experienced reinfections had a much higher risk of experiencing severe illness outcomes compared to those who had received immunizations and experienced breakthrough infections, even if the rates of reinfection and breakthrough infection were similar. Our findings highlight the value of immunization in reducing severe COVID-19 outcomes, even in the presence of reinfections.
Correspondence
Open Access January 10, 2025

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients who received ventilator management during the omicron variant period in a tertiary hospital in Japan

Abstract Background: Severe COVID-19 patients who received ventilator management were not very rare even when the omicron variant became dominant, but the clinical characteristics of these patients are still unclear. Methods: The clinical characteristics of severe COVID-19 patients requiring ventilator management were retrospectively investigated from January 2023 to December 2023. [...] Read more.
Background: Severe COVID-19 patients who received ventilator management were not very rare even when the omicron variant became dominant, but the clinical characteristics of these patients are still unclear. Methods: The clinical characteristics of severe COVID-19 patients requiring ventilator management were retrospectively investigated from January 2023 to December 2023. Results: Severe COVID-19 patients who received ventilator management accounted for 11 of 275 (4.2%) patients during the omicron variant period. Their mean age was 70.7 (51-85) years, and males were predominant. Ten of eleven (91.7%) patients were managed in the emergency department and had underlying diseases, including chronic lung/heart/kidney diseases and neurological diseases. However, only 4 of 11 (36.4%) had a clear history of vaccination. The patients showed a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen titer of 3305.7 (12.9-20912). All 11 patients were treated with remdesivir and dexamethasone, and 5 (45.5%) also received sotrovimab. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 7 of 11 (63.6%) patients, and all 11 patients were treated with antibiotics. Only 3 of 11 (27.3%) patients were managed using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), but 9 of 11(81.8%) patients survived. Conclusions: These data suggest that severe COVID-19 patients who required ventilator management were less-vaccinated, elderly patients with underlying disease. These patients were treated successfully using antiviral agents, steroids, neutralizing antibodies, and antibiotics, with a few also treated using ECMO in the omicron era.
Commentary
Open Access October 16, 2023

Clinical Characteristics and Imaging Findings of Adult COVID-19 and Influenza-related Pulmonary Complications due to Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract The pulmonary characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) co-infection with respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, are still unclear. Case series: Two patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [...] Read more.
The pulmonary characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) co-infection with respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, are still unclear. Case series: Two patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infection in the lungs co-infected with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus are reported. Case 1 was a 66-year-old woman who was admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Her chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed multiple cavity formations with infiltration shadows, and MSSA was detected from her sputum and blood, suggesting COVID-19-related bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. No catheters had been used, but she had skin eruptions and a history of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/SBT) was administered, and she finally improved. Case 2 was an 87-year-old man with a history of atopic dermatitis who was admitted with moderate pneumonia, and influenza virus co-infection was found. He showed multiple cavitary shadows, and MSSA was isolated from both his sputum and blood. He was diagnosed with influenza-related bacterial pulmonary embolism. No catheters had been used, but he had a history of influenza vaccination. He was also treated by ABPC/SBT and finally improved. Conclusions: These cases suggest that MSSA showed affinity to the lungs when co-infected with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus, and it presented as septic emboli without catheter use. We should consider MSSA infection when patients have SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus co-infection, and multiple cavity formation and skin disorders are seen, even though they were vaccinated and no catheters were used.
Figures
PreviousNext
Case Series
Open Access September 04, 2023

Management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2 infection in the Principality of Monaco

Abstract Background: This work is a report of the present situation and management of Corona Virus (CoV) infection in the Principality of Monaco. Methods: To comply with the practices adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and neighboring Countries in this area, residents infected by CoV are the object of this health report. The Prince’s Government also communicates the data relating to [...] Read more.
Background: This work is a report of the present situation and management of Corona Virus (CoV) infection in the Principality of Monaco. Methods: To comply with the practices adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and neighboring Countries in this area, residents infected by CoV are the object of this health report. The Prince’s Government also communicates the data relating to screening. These are stopped at Sunday January 1st included. Results: The results of this survey point out how this infection is still active in Monaco, although not at the emergency levels of 2020. Conclusions: These results call for not leaving prevention measures, both primary (vaccine) and secondary (personal protective equipment [PPE], social distancing, etc.) adopted until now and which gave so good results.
Figures
PreviousNext
Case Series
Open Access July 28, 2023

Should not we vaccinate the public against seasonal influenza all over the year in COVID-19 era?

Abstract The pandemic of the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) that was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 is still ongoing. One of the early recommendations from CDC and other international agencies is the seasonal influenza vaccination to decrease the effects and burden of COVID-19 pandemic. This review suggests that during COVID-19 pandemic vaccination against seasonal influenza should [...] Read more.
The pandemic of the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) that was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 is still ongoing. One of the early recommendations from CDC and other international agencies is the seasonal influenza vaccination to decrease the effects and burden of COVID-19 pandemic. This review suggests that during COVID-19 pandemic vaccination against seasonal influenza should be conducted all over the year, even for young age groups, because of several reasons. First, the complications of seasonal influenza, especially pneumonia, could increase the burden on the saturated healthcare systems worldwide. Second, the resemblance of symptoms and signs of both seasonal influenza and COVID-19 will difficult diagnosing and isolation of COVID-19 patients. Third, it has been postulated that there is a cross immunity between seasonal influenza and COVID-19.
Mini Review
Open Access November 29, 2022

The Application of Machine Learning in the Corona Era, With an Emphasis on Economic Concepts and Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract The aim of this article is to examine the impacts of Coronavirus Disease -19 (Covid-19) vaccines on economic condition and sustainable development goals. In other words, we are going to study the economic condition during Covid19. We have studied the economic costs of pandemic, benefits in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), public finances and employment, investment on vaccines around the [...] Read more.
The aim of this article is to examine the impacts of Coronavirus Disease -19 (Covid-19) vaccines on economic condition and sustainable development goals. In other words, we are going to study the economic condition during Covid19. We have studied the economic costs of pandemic, benefits in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), public finances and employment, investment on vaccines around the world, progress and totally the economic impacts of vaccines and the impacts of emerging markets (EM) on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), including no poverty, good health and well-being, zero hunger, reduced inequality etc. The importance of emerging economies in reducing the harmful effects of the Corona has also been noted. We have tried to do experimental results and forecast daily new death cases from Feb-2020 to Aug-2021 in Iran using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm as a case study with econometric models and regression analysis. The findings show that Covid19 has had devastating economic and health effects on the world, and the vaccine can be very helpful in eliminating these effects specially in long-term. We observed that there is inequality in the distribution of Corona vaccines in rich countries compared to poor which EM can decrease the gap between them. The results show that both models (i.e., Artificial intelligence (AI) and econometric models) almost have the same results but AI optimization models can robust the model and prediction. The main contribution of this article is that we have surveyed the impacts of vaccination from socio-economic viewpoint not just report some facts and truth. We have surveyed the impacts of vaccines on sustainable development goals and the role of EM in achieving SDGs. In addition to using the theoretical framework, we have also used quantitative and empirical results that have rarely been seen in other articles.
Figures
PreviousNext
Article
Open Access June 21, 2021

COVID-19 and Human Immune Response: A Literature Based Review

Abstract Currently, the world is facing the COVID-19 epidemic, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Emerging body of molecular evidences suggested a similar path to SARS and MERS viruses. A viral particles cascade enters into the human body through eyes, nose, and mouth, few of these viral particles reaches to the lower respiratory tract through breathing and here their spike protein act like a key and lock [...] Read more.
Currently, the world is facing the COVID-19 epidemic, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Emerging body of molecular evidences suggested a similar path to SARS and MERS viruses. A viral particles cascade enters into the human body through eyes, nose, and mouth, few of these viral particles reaches to the lower respiratory tract through breathing and here their spike protein act like a key and lock into epithelial cells which are the air sacs in lungs. SARS-CoV-2 is undetectable for a longer period of time than many other flu and coronaviruses. Once they entered inside body, they overtake the cell’s machinery, replicate, multiply and infect the adjoining cells. All the viruses have a tell-tale signature on the surface known as antigens, identifying these antigens is what activate the immune system by producing the antibodies. Researchers have shown that a wide range of immune cells that react to SARS-CoV-2 and helps in recovery could be helpful in the development of potential vaccines.
Literature Review
Open Access October 02, 2022

Thoughts on Pneumococcal Vaccination for the Adult Individuals with Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Streptococcus pneumoniae [...] Read more.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogenic bacteria causing pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal diseases, and the vaccination for pneumococcal vaccination is recommended in patients with RA and other autoimmune disorders. Compared with the immunocompetent individuals, frequency and the mortality rate were higher in the RA patients. The effect of pneumococcal vaccination may not be weakened in people using corticosteroid and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) currently being used, but mild to relatively inhibition of immunogenicity was suggested in patients using either methotrexate or rituximab. Administration of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), rather than 23-valent Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) may be desirable in preventing pneumonia in people with autoimmune disease and sequential administration of PCV13 in people aged ≤64 years and PPSV23 from age ≥65 years may be useful for preventing pneumonia in people with autoimmune disease according to the insurance system. In addition, PCV15 and PCV 20 will be available soon and expected for more clinical efficiency rather than current PCV13 and PPSV23.
Mini Review

Query parameters

Keyword:  Vaccine

View options

Citations of

Views of

Downloads of